Halyard attachment for flagpoles.



No. 689,077. v Patented 090.17, mm.

' a. m; GRIFFITH.

HALYABD ATTACHMENT FUR FLAGPULES.

(Application fllgd Mar. 7, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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GEORGE M. GRIFFITH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. EVELETH GRIFFITH, OF I-IAMPDEN,

MASSACHUSETTS.

HALYARD ATTACHMENT FOR FLAGPOLES.

SEEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,077, dated December 17, 1901. Application filed March '7, 1901. Serial No. 50,223. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. GRIFFITH, a citizen of the United States,'residin g at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Halyard Attachments for Flagpoles; and I do doclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to halyard attachments for flagpoles and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby thehalyards to which the flag is fastened may rotate with the flag around the pole with any changes in the direction of the wind to avoid the likelihood of the flaghalyards becoming wrapped around the staff or pole and to keep the flag and halyards at all times on one and the same side of the pole; also, to otherwise improve the construction of devices of this character.

As fiagpoles and halyards are now constructed, with the halyards tied or otherwise fastened permanently with relation to the fiagstaff, when the wind changes ora sudden whirl or gust blows in a different quarter from the general direction of the wind the flag and halyardsare often wrapped around the pole, and with the next veering of the wind the flag often becomes tangled and presents an unsightly appearance and likely to become torn. To overcome these objections, 1 provide means by which the flag and the fastenings by which the halyards are attached to the pole are at all times on the lee side of the pole and will veer freely around with all changes of the wind, leaving the flag free to always fly at full length.

Figure 1 is a view of a flag and pole with my device attached. Fig. 2 is a plan of the lower member of the upper halyard-fastening device, showing ball-race. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section of the upper halyard fastoning. Fig. 4.- shows the upper face of revolving ring 4 Fig. 5 is a plan of the top member of the upper halyard-fastenin g. Fig.

6 is a bottom view of upper plate in the lower halyard-fastening. Fig. 7 is a vertical central section of the lower fastening device. Fig. 8 is a plan of the rotating plate in the lower fastening.

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates the pole or mast, of any usual or approved construction. The halyard-fastening device consists of two members, as indicated at 2 and 3. The rotating members or rings 4 and 5, which surround the pole, as also all other parts or rings which when assembled consti tute my device, may be separately cast in one piece or cast in two pieces, if desirable, and fastened togetherbybolts, as shown at 10, Fig. 5. In the first and preferable instance the rings will be slipped over the smaller end of the pole, the larger ones first, and placed in adjusted position, as desired, and there fastened to the pole by bolts, as shown at 11, Figs. 3 and '7, or otherwise. In the latter instance the two halves of the separate mem bers may be placed around the mast or pole and clamped by bolts, as above stated.

The ropes or halyards are attached in usual manner to the upper rotating member 4 and lower rotating member 5. Plate 5 is provided with a projection,as 15, having a hole,through which the rope is passed and then fastened. At the upper end of the pole the revolving member 4 is provided with an eye 16, projecting from the periphery of said plate 4:, and through which the upper ends of the halyards are passed, or a pulley may be hung from said eye and the rope or halyard passed around and over said pulley, as is customary.

At the upper end of the pole the members 6 and 17 of fastening 2 are secured to the pole, as described. Rotary member 4, to which the halyards are attached, as shown, is placed between the complementary pieces 6 and 17, there being ball or roller bearings 7 running in the corresponding grooves in the adjacent faces of the three members to permit of an easy and almost frictionless r0- tary movement around the flagstafi. Flanges, as 8 and 9, overhang the bearings to keep out rain and dust and also act as guides for the circular motion of the revolving member.

At the lower end of the halyards I insert a plate 5 between upper and lower ball-bearings 12. The halls are interposed between the revolving plate or ring 5 and the upper and lower stationary members 13 and 14, the balls running in corresponding grooves in the adjacent faces of the stationary plates and the revolving plate and forming an antifriction-bearing for the plate or ring 5 and guiding said plate in its rotary movement around the pole or staff.

-What I claim is 1. The combination with a flagpole of the halyards or ropes having the two fastening devices, the upper device consisting of a ring or plate rotatable around the pole and resting upon and between and held by ball-bearings running in grooves in stationary complementary guide-plates, said rotatable plate and one guide-plate having an overhanging flange or guide; the lower member of the fastening device consisting of the rotatable plate interposed between ball-bearings running in grooves in the adjacent faces of an upper and lower stationary plate or ring, the upper plate and the rotatable plate each having an overhanging circular flange or guide, substantially as described.

2. A rotatable attachment for halyards and the like consisting of the upper and lower stationary members as 17 and 6, the upper plate having an overhanging ring or flange, the rotatable plate or ring, as 4, held between said plates by ball-bearings and free to rotate, said rotatable plate having an eyelet for attachment of the rope or halyard, and provided with an overhanging flange or ring; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE M. GRIFFITH. 

